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Despite the current interest in and need for studies in the conceptualization and measurement of social resilience to hazards and disasters, there remains significant research gaps within this area. This study seeks to fill one such gap via the provision of an innovative unified framework of social resilience across three disaster phases (i.e., pre-disaster, response and recovery) using a quantitative research method. We utilized the survey results from the New South Wales State Emergency Service volunteers to validate a conceptualization framework that aimed to enhance social resilience across all disaster phases. This study had shown the positive correlation between identified indicators and social resilience but varying in impact strength depending on disaster phase.

Although the occurrence of extreme events generally cannot be prevented, their negative effects can be lessened by various risk reductions actions and by improving the capacity of communities and individuals to cope. Improving the resilience of both individuals and communities reduces the effects of hazards allowing a faster recovery and return to normal and is increasingly becoming a goal of communities, organisations and governments throughout the world. Improving resilience is complicated and often requires numerous interrelated actions that vary depending specific circumstances of the people, community and location. To meaningfully determine, co-ordinate, plan and prioritise the most effective measures of improving resilience, a baseline assessment of the community’s strengths and weaknesses is required. This paper contributes by examining the status of community resilience in two remote towns within the Northern Territory of Australia. A qualitative narrative assesses community resilience for small remote locations and discusses relevant issues alongside the scoring achieved using a common scoring methodology. It further provides insights and an examination of the methods of assessment and appropriateness of assessment methodology.